<> Polyura schreiber Godart,1824 <>

the Blue Nawab ผีเสื้อม้าน้ำเงิน

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Photo taken at Lamnamkok National Park, Chiang Rai, Thailand. 740m a.s.l.

Polyura schreiber is fairly rare but widespread across all countries in the SE Asia region. Both sexes are similar in appearance and it has a strong and rapid flight. It spends a lot of time in the canopy where the males are territorial and is only usually seen when it comes down to mud puddle or feed.

The species is multivoltine with several broods per annum but it is not known how many. Females lay their eggs singly on the upperside of a leaf on the host plant. More study needs to be done on this species.

Synonyms: Eriboea schreiber, Eulepis schreiber

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Charaxinae - Polyura - schreiber

Regional subspecies: Polyura schreiber assamensis (N.India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Yunnan-China), Polyura schreiber luzonicus (Philippines), Polyura schreiber malayicus (E.Malaysia, Kalimantan-Indonesia), Polyura schreiber praedictus (Palawan-Philippines), Polyura schreiber schreiber (Java-Indonesia), Polyura schreiber tisamenus (S.Thailand, W.Malaysia, Singapore)

Regional Distribution: India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines

Habitat: Polyura schreiber is found in various habitats including evergreen forest, wetland, parks and gardens. It has been recorded at elevations up to 1900m a.s.l.

Flight time: most of the year, depending on location Wingspan: 60–75mm

Life History: egg 4 days instar 1 5-7 days instar 2 5 days instar 3 5-6 days instar 4 6-7 days instar 5 12-13 days pupa 11 days. Egg to adult 48-53 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts: Acacia auriculiformis, Adenanthera pavonina, Bauhinia phoenicea, Cynometra cauliflora, Moullava spicata (Fabaceae), Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera cylindrica (Rhizophoraceae), Nephelium lappaceum (Sapindaceae), Rourea minor (Connaraceae), Theobroma cacao, Ceiba pentandra, Ceiba speciosa, Helicteres isora (Malvaceae), Rinorea anguifera (Violaceae), Aglaia lawii (Meliaceae)
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.